MILF commander killed in clash with BIFF

A Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander was killed Saturday afternoon during a firefight between MILF fighters and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters gunmen in Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, identified the slain MILF leader as Datukong Ampuan, alias Falcon, of the MILF’s 108th Base Command. There was no information on BIFF casualties.

Ampuan and fellow commander Jack Abas were holding a peace dialogue when they were engaged by the BIFF, led by Commander Gani Saligan, around 5 p.m. in Barangay Kalbugan.The fighting lasted until 10 p.m.

Philippine security forces refrained from intervening due to the “volatile situation,” which could panic locals.

Petinglay explained that the clash was the latest in a long-standing rido or clan war between the two groups. Just last week, a BIFF fighter was killed, with another injured, in a clash with the MILF in the same barangay.

The 6th Division spokesperson did not know how and when the rido first began. — DVM, GMA News